Chicago Cubs At Center of Team USA Outrage in World Baseball Classic Final
Team USA manager Mark DeRosa can’t please everyone and he is once again getting dragged online by fans after releasing the starting lineup for the World Baseball Classic final against Venezuela Tuesday night. A few Chicago Cubs player are at the center of the fan outrage that’s been simmering all tournament long.
Alex Bregman In, Gunnar Henderson Out
Baltimore Orioles fans have been all over DeRosa since pool play began in the World Baseball Classic and infielder Gunnar Henderson was stuck on the bench. When he did get an opportunity to play Henderson delivered, going 6-for-14, with two home runs in three games. The left-handed hitter will begin on the bench against Venezuela as Alex Bregman returns to the starting lineup.
Bregman, who has played in four games for the United States in this year’s World Baseball Classic, is 2-for-11, with a double. He also has five walks and DeRosa is leaning toward Bregman’s track record against Eduardo Rodríguez, who will be the starting pitcher for Venezuela.
This one seems pretty straight forward for DeRosa as Bregman is 9-for-27, in his career against the left-handed pitcher. Out of those nine hits, Bregman has three home runs off Rodríguez, while walking four times.
The main argument seems to be that Henderson is currently the hot-hitter and that DeRosa should stick with him instead of Bregman regardless of previous experience.
Pete Crow-Armstrong Out, Byron Buxton In
On the flip side, Chicago Cubs fans are pissed off because DeRosa is going with the platoon advantage in center field against Venezuela. That means Pete Crow-Armstrong, who had a slash line of .188/.217/.376, in 2025 vs. left-handed pitching is on the bench tonight and has been replaced in the starting lineup with Byron Buxton.
At the beginning of the tournament Buxton appeared to be the starter in center field, but after a hit-by-pitch the Minnesota Twins player has been limited to late-inning substitutions and eight total plate appearances in the World Baseball Classic. Buxton started against Brazil in the opening game for the United States and then again against Mexico on March 9, but has only had one at-bat since, leaving some fans upset that DeRosa is starting him over Crow-Armstrong in the championship game.
Buxton is hitless in six at-bats, reaching safely on a walk and HBP. Meanwhile, Crow-Armstrong is tied for the team lead in home runs with two and is 5-for-17 in five games. There’s no question that the Cubs center fielder is the better defender either, so this one really is setting fans off.
Buxton has faced Rodriguez seven times in his career. The right-handed hitter is 1-for-6, with a walk and strikeout.